Carls Jr.’s Fried Zucchini Star sandwich landed at the bottom of a menu ranking, a poor showing for one of the chain’s few vegetarian options. The sandwich, served on a seeded bun with lettuce, onions, pickles, tomato, mayo and Carl's Jr. special sauce, was singled out after the chain had already discontinued its Beyond Burger.
Tasting Table said the zucchini in the sandwich was mushy, bland and overcooked, and placed the item last among Carl's Jr. menu offerings. The result matters because the chain is best known for bold burgers and fried fare, not meatless food, and the review suggests its current vegetarian choice does not stack up well against the rest of the menu.
Customers on Reddit echoed that view. One called the item “the most disappointing ‘veggie burger’ of my life,” while another said, “Just tried it and it’s definitely a step down from the [Beyond] patty.” The criticism also fits the source’s broader point that fried zucchini works better as a side dish than as a sandwich filling.
That leaves Carl’s Jr. with a thinner vegetarian lineup than before and a review that undercuts one of the few meatless options still on the board. For vegetarians comparing fast food chains, the message from this ranking is plain: this is not the place to start.
